Chapter 7The conference room on the top floor of headquarters was rarely used, but the chief called all the homicide detectives in for a briefing on Onizuka’s death in Marunouchi and no other room was large enough to fit everyone. The tables faced the front in perfect hierarchical rows.
Hiroshi sat in the last row next to Takamatsu. His sake hangover felt like a huge steam iron on his head. His body felt bloated, feverish, and achy. He squinted at the front of the room, and then closed his eyes in foggy resignation.
Sugamo and Osaki sat right in front of Hiroshi, a human scrum to hide behind. Sakaguchi squirmed at the front next to the chief. It was early morning at the front of the room and twilight at the back.
After an hour of the chief’s asking the same questions repeatedly and prat
